Controlling mechanism for successively-acting printing units



9 8 3 l 9 1 L E s M F Q 0 CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR SUCCESSIVELY ACTING PRINTING UNITS Filed Aug. 25 1926' Mei/@423,

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 13, 1928. I

o. c. F. MEISEL CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR SUCCESSIVELY ACTING PRINTING UNITS Filed Aug. 25, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 3 I nveynifo'i I Patented Nov. 13, 1928.

onto 0. r. MEISEL, or Bos'ro' GHUSETTS.

GTURING COMPANY, or

TES PATENT; OFFICE. I N, ness aoiiusnrms, nssisivon To ivinisnn rnnss Mine." BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A conrona'rioivor MASSA- CONTROLLING MECHANISM non SUCCESSIVELY-ACTING PRINTING UNITS. f

This chinery control Application filed August 25, 1826. Serial 'No. 131,369.

invention relates to printing maand the object is to provide for the in properly timed relation of the operation of successively acting printing units. mechan As an example I have herein shown a ism controlling the operation of numbering heads associated respectively with the spaced couples of a inulti-couple rotary press adapted to print on a web of paper.

The

trated embodiment of my invention illusas an example thereof will be well following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 is a partly diagrammatic view with parts broken away and showing the controlling or coordinating mechanism for the printing' heac Fig. 2. is a section on and LS in side, elevation;

line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section on line 3-3.0f Fig. 1 on a larger scale. n

Referring to Flg. 1 or the draw ngs, I have there shown a first printing couple comprising a plate cylinder cylinder 1 passes and from which it 1sv led by intermediate guiding between which the web of paper means or through intermediate mechanism, not necessary to show here,' to a second aw.y and emand an impres- With each of the plate associated a numbering couple some distance head, so-called embodying a series of auto matically shiftable types adapted to print a series of numbers.

The simplest operation of such a head is toprint the successive elements of the natural number series on successive revolutions of the plate cylinder and for convenienc e I shall assume that such an operation is herein beingcontrolledv Thenumberin g hea printed d on the plate cylinder P is adapted way related to that by the cylinder 1? on the same portion of the web; for instance, it may print a duplicute number 111 another color on a portion of the web which constitutes a separable unit,

such as of such constit;

a coupon or ticket. The construction numbering heads is well known and .tes no part of the present invent on bering head through the action of the cams.

P and an impression nenced to act'.

initial position by cam. 9 which cams may be mounted on the arms of a swinging member 11 pivoted at 13; The plate cylinder P has a similar mechanism provided withafollower 500 operated by the cams 700 and 900 on the arms of the swingingmember 1100. Reverting to the first couple, it will be apparent from the drawings thatif the member 11 is swung counterclockwise thecain 9 will be depressed out of the path of the follower-5 and the cam 7 raised above its path and the plate cylinder may revolve without actuation of the num The operation of the mechanism associated with the second 'couple is similar.

To facilitate the understanding of what is to follow we may suppose the two couples to be so spaced that four cycles of the couples are completed before the portion of the paper printed in a certain mannerv by plate cylinder reaches plate cylinder ,Pto have the correlated legend printed on it by the latter. Thus, if P" is printing the number 7 31,? is printing 727. Therefore, if for any reason it is desired to interrupt the action of the numbering head onthe cylinderl the cylinder P should continue to act for four revolutions before its head is thrown out.' Likewise, if work is resumed-the head on the cylinder P should not start in operation until four cycles after the head on the cylinderPrhas com- In accordance with my invention I provide mechanism whereby such a coordinated control as suggested in thepreceding paragraph may be effected and in particular I have herein shown a mechanism whereby, if the cams 7 and 9 associated with cylinder Pare thrown ofi or to inoperative position, they act to set into operation a delayed action mechanism ,or timing mechanismwhich acts to throw 0E the cams 500 and 7 00 after a determined number of cycles. I. will here describe in detail 7 bell crank lever21, one arm of which isconnected by means of link 22 to the cam-carry ing member 11 so that on clockwisemovement of the handle as described such member will be swung counterclockwise from theposition illustrated to the inoperative position wherein the-cams 7 and 9 do not act uponthe i'tol-, lower 5. The'other arm of the bell crank 21 1 may form a wiper 23 adapted to cooperate fore symmetrical.

witha. roll 25 .on one arm of an oscillating lever 27 swinging on center 28. As will hereinafter appear, the wiper 23 is double-acting and the nose portion of the lever is there- Initially in the thrmy-oil action just described the lower side of this nose acts against the roll 25, swinging lever 27 clockwise and by means of the connecting link 28a similar movement isimparted to a parallel lever 29 located adjacent thesecond couple P I and swinging on center 30.

The throwing of. the lever 29 as effected through the handle 15 is utilized to set nto action a suitable delayed action mechanism operating the throw-ofi fo r the cam-carrying 7 member 1100. This movement, consisting of a clockwise swinging of such member 1100, may be efl'ected by rocking clockwise against the action of spring 30 an arm: 31 on a. shaft 33, whicharm 31 :is connected by link 35 to the member 1100, such rocking of the arm throwing the cams 700 .and 900 to inoperative position, as will be clear from the drawing.

Movement of arm 31 may be effected byrocking shaft 33 through the mediumoi a bell crank 37 fast thereon, one arm of the bell crank being connected by a link 39 to the end of a lever 41 on which is mounted a cam'foL lower 43 adapted to be acted upon by an edge cam 45 to cause swinging of the lever. This cam, asfshown, may have substantially half its circumference constituting a rise portion of larger radius than the f otherhalf and in the drawings the follower 43 is'shown' in position just ofl the rise ofthe cam after coun-' terclockwise revolution of the latter and on the depressed portion, this being the position of the parts whenthe cams controlling the numbering head followers 5 and 500 are in the operative position illustrated in the drawings. w 7

, Cam, 45 may be rotated by means of a ratchet wheel 47, turning therewith and driven by pawl 49 on the pawl-carrying arm 51 which is oscillated in timed relation to the action of the printing couples, such movewhen rocked clockwise" V to the wiper 23.

is presented in such position'as to prevent the pawl 49 from falling into the tooth which itwould normallyengage-at the commencement of its driving stroke, This 1 mask .is formed on a pivoted arm whichis held in position by means of link 57 connected to lever 29. When lever 29 swings clockwise upon operationof the throw-ofi' handle 15in the manner just described, the mask will be raised to permit the pawl 49 to engage the ratchet wheel. When the pawl has advanced the ratchet a predetermined amount, herein four teeth, corresponding to four cycles of the printing mechanism, the cam will have been given a half revolution, the follower 43 will run up on the rise portion thereof and'the lever 41 will be swungclockwise' throwing the cam carrier 1100 j to inoperative position against the action of the spring 30. r

i It willthus be seen that after operation of thenumbering head on cylinder P has ceased, the operation of the numbering head on cylinder P continues until the piece of work last acted upon by the head on the first cylinder has reached the second cylinder and been printed upon, at which time the action oi the second head ceases, both headshaving arrived at the same number.

' 'The other arm of hell crank 37 may be I formed as 'a double-acting wiper 59 similar The clockwise oscillation of lever 29 in the manner already described throws the lower end thereof into the path of the wiper59 and when the bell crank is swung-under the influence of cam 45 the wiper swings downwardly and acts on roll 61 carried by the lever, returning it to the position shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. After such action, however, both wipers 23 and 59 will be below the rolls 25 and 61 respectively. Theturning of the lever 29' to the position shown lowers the mask 55 andstops the action of the pawl and ratchet.

When it is desired'to start the numbering heads again, the handle 15 is moved in the reverse direction (counterclockwise), the wiper 23, which is then below theroll 25, swings'up past it,-swinging lever 27' clockwise and, through lever 29,'raising mask 55 and permitting the ratchet mechanism to operate for four steps, after which the. cam roll which at the beginning of the opera tion was on the high part of the cam, rides oil to the depressed portion permitting the spring 30 to throw the cam carrier 1100 back to the position shown in Fig. 1 so that the head of cylinder P commences to print on the same area of paper which was printed spring also rocks bell cranh 3'? counterclockwis and the wiper 59 which was positioned below the roll 61 swings upwardly, returning lever 29 to the position shown in the drawings and. permitting the mask to drop into position and all he parts resun'ic'the positions cratcd in l.

I prefer to utilize means whi h will effect the oscillation oi lever l and consequent movement of the cams out roin r into operative position only di nedetermined part of the operating cyc: ample oi' the. invention illusti ted the cam iollower 5 operating the num Milli oering head is moved inwardly by cam to advance the head and returned outwardly i ieoppos e direction by the cam 9 to a pos ion in whicn it will be operated upon by cam .7 in the succeeding cycle. Now, 11 the cam follower 5 were in the position shown between the two cams and the cam carrier were swung to inoperative position, the 1ZLCl would not be operated, and ii the head were thrown in again at an indeterminate time, it would be a matter of chance whether the number previously printed would'be repeated or wh ther the cam follower would be operated prior to the printing operation to irint the next serial number. Also, in cases where several heads are associated with a single :wlfidei; as, for instance, in printing forms wiplicate, it is important that the cycle or operations be stopped and commenced prior to the operation of the first of such heads.

in the embodiu'ient 'o invention illustrated, therefore, i provide mechanical means operating in ti ed relation to the movements of the prinnng couple for oscil lating ti o lever 12 utilizing handle 15 merely as a means or manual control for per mittiuc such mechanical means to come into play at the proper time, the operation of such manual control itselif not requiring any accurate timing. For this purpose 1 may utilize an arm 63 carrying a cam roll 65 and having its hub 67 (see Fig. splined to the sleeve like hub 69 of lever 17, which latter may be mounted on a. stud 71 here shown as supported its opposite ends by the frame 73 of the machine and by a bracket 75 res ectively. This arrangement provides for roc in o; lever 1'? when arm 63 is rocked and for sliding movement of the hub 67 of the latter relative to the former by suitable means control such as that hereinafter described. Referring now to Fig. 1,1 may utilize for throwing arm 63 suitable edge cams 7'? 79 rotating in timed relation to the movements of the coupl herein by being carried respectively on the shafts of impression cylind r l and plate cylinder P". The cams C 79 may be disaligned as shown in 2 and in. the no mal position of the parts the roll 65 may be disposed in the plane of cam 2'9, the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 where the num- 'will act on the roll to swing raised portion of the collar SZto slide the boring head cams 7 and 9 are in operative position being that in which the roll isthrown by the nose portion 81 of such cam representing' the position of the parts. Obviously the rotation'ot the cam 79 will be without etl'ect upon the arm 63. If, however, the arm is moved. inwardly (or upwardly, viewing Fig. 2} so as to bring the roll 65 into the plane oi cam 77,'the rise 83 on'the latter arm 63 clockwise a-udto rock lever 1 also clockwise" and to set the throwoli' mechanisn'i into operation in the manner already described. After the arm has thus been thrown the cam 77 will rotate. idly as the roll 65 has been moved to c -'tre nose 830i the cam and thecams 'Z and 9; main thrown out through successive revolutions of the cylinders until arni63 with its cam roll 65 again brought back into'the plane of cam 79, in. which case the nose 81 of the same will return the arm to the posie tion of Fig. 1.

Any suitable means may be utilized for shiftingthe arm but l have herein shown the handle 15 as journalled on stud 71 and as having a hub 85 formed in tie manner of a face cam, having a diagonal surface whichopposes the similarly formed surface on a collar 87 slidably keyed to the stud. and resting position toward the right the against hub 37 of arm 63. The parts are normally retained in the position shown corresponding to the position of the cam roll G5 in the plane of cam 79 by means of a spring 89 surrounding hub 69 of the lever 17 and bear ing ag inst the ml) 617 of armbfl, the outer end oi? bracket 75 forming a stop cooperating with the outer endof the hub 85 of the handle 15. Now, it the handle 15 is moved do i wardly, viewing Fig. 1, the raised portion on face 01" the hub 85 will cooperate with the latter inwardly-toward the frame ano move the hub 62 inwardly ,gainst the forceof spring untilcam roll 65 is brought into the plane oi: 7'1. It will be understood that the cammii faces so constructed to provide a definite inner positionfo the follower in which the parts will l.e seli-retaining against the eirpansive force of the spring 89 so that tl1e';tollowei-65 will remain in the plane of the cam 'ZT until the is operated. inthe opposite direction to release the parts to the force of the spring;

Referring to Fig. 1, it will be noted t-hat'in position of the parts therein shown the or 21-1569 83 of the 'cam 77 is behind the folower '5 andfin this particular part of the cycle or vement of the follower into the plane is not possible because the nose of rms a stop preventing" such move- S'imilarly in thethrown-oti' position is parts the nose 81 will form a stop preventin of the parts 85 andS? may be outward movement of the arm 63 the cam roll 65, having been thrown by the nose 83, will .be behind the nose 81. The circumferential extent of the high portion of the cam may be such that the arm is in this manner locked against movement while the cam follower is passing under cam 7 ,as will be apparent from inspection of the drawings. It is thus impossible to operate the throw-off mechanism while the cam 7 is or should be operating on the follower 5. When the follower, however, has'passed the cam and at any other part of the rotation of the cylinder,

the handle 15 may be operated but the cams 7 and 9 will not be immediately thrown to inoperative position. On the contrary, the immediate effect of throwing the handle is merely to shift arm 63 into the plane of cam 7'? and the operation of the throw-elf mechanism is accomplished by that cam at a definite time in the cycle of the press. the handle is operated to start the numbering heads into operation again. Obviously the circumferential extent ofthe nose of the cam determines for what portion of the cycle the motion of the handle is prevented. Such portion might be considerable, for instance in the case where the two couples shown were the first and last of aseries of several for, while I have herein referred to a pair of couples and heads and have illustrated but two, this pair may'evidcntly be units of a larger as sembly.

IVhile Iv have herein described the two printing couples as consisting each of a plate cylinder and an impression cylinder, it is obvious that my invention is not limited to this particular construction of press. For example, the two plate cylinders might cooperate with a. single'impression surface and I hereafter use the word couple, except when otherwise indicated by limitation, ina generic sense to indicate any combination of type surface and impression surface utilized in the printing art. 1

I have describedv in' detail the particular embodiment of my invention shown as an example thereofin the accompanying drawings. It will be understood, however, that the construction shown is illustrative merely and that the particularity of the description has had for its purpose giving the reader a clear und anding of the mechanicalconstruction shown andthat the mechanical details and combinations illustrated are not necessarily of the essence of the invention." WVhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent I shall expressin the following claims.

I claim- 1. In combination with a pair of successive printing couples each having a periodically actuated mechanism associated therewith and a cam for ctuating the mechanism, means to throw off the cam for one couple, a device for throwing off the cam of the second couple,

' mechanism for drivingthe same in timed re- The like is true when lation to movement of the couples and means actuated from said first throw-ofi' means to render such driving mechanism elfective.

2. In combination with a pair of successive printing couples each having a periodically actuated mechanism associated therewith and a cam for actuating the mechanism, means to throw off the cam for one couple, a cam to throw off the other couple, a ratchet for rotating the cam, a pawl carrier actuated in timed relation to the rotation of the couples and a mask for the ratchet connected to said first throw-off means to be positioned thereby.

3. In combination with a pair of successive printingcouples each having a periodically actuated mechanism associated therewith and a cam for actuating the mechanism, means to move the cam of one couple into and out'from operating position, a timing mechanism set in action by actuation of said means and means whereby said timing mechanism effects a corresponding in or out movement of the cam of the second couple.

l. In combination with a pair of successive printing couples each having a periodically actuated mechanism associated therewith and a cam for actuating the mechanism, means to t fow off the cam for one couple, means to throw off the cam of the second couple, a rotary cam for actuating the same, a ratchet for driving said cam, a cooperating pawl-carryarm, a crank and link connection for oscil: lating the arm on rotation of the couple, and means controlled by said first throw '-off means to release the pawl to the ratchet.

5. In combination with a pair of successive printing couples each having a periodically actuated mechanism associated therewith and a cam for actuating-the mechanism, means to throw off the cam for one couple, means to throw off the cam of the second couple, a rotary cam for actuating the same, a step by step device adapted for actuation on revolution of the couple and means controlled by said first throw-off means to render said device effective to drive the cam. T

6. In combination with a pair of successive printing couples each having a periodically actuated mechanism associated therewith and a cam for actuating the mechanism, means to move the cam of one couple into and out from operative position, a double acting wiper actuated therewith, a lever thrown by the wiper, a second lever connected to the first, a delayed action mechanism controlled by movement of said second. lever, means for positioning the cam of the second couple operated by said mechanism and a second wiper operating on the second lever to throw the same and actuated with said last mentioned means.

7. In combination with a pair of succes" sive printing couples each having a periodically actuated mechanism associated therewith and a cam for actuating the mechanism, means to move the cam of one couple into and out from operative position, a. double acting wiper actuated therewith, a lever thrown by the wiper, a second leverconnected to the first, a rotary cam, a ratchet and pawl for driving the same, a mask for the ratchet positioned by said second lever, means for positioning the cam of the second couple operated by said rotary cam and a second wiper also driven from said rotary cam and acting to throw said second lever.

8. In combination with a pair of successive printing couples each having a numbering head a sociated therewith adapted to be periodically actuated to change the type face thereof, means to intermit the actuation of one numbering head, a delayed action mechanism, movement of which is initiated by operation of said means, and means to intermit the actuation of said second numbering head operated by said device.

9. Incombination with-a pair of successive printing couples each having a numbering head associated therewith adapted to be periodically actuated to change the typeface thereof, means to intermit the actuation of one numbering head, means to intermit the actuation of the second numbering head, a

mechanism driven in timed relation to said couples adapted to operate said latter means after a determined movement and a connection whereby operation of said first mentioned means initiates operation of said mechanism. V V

10. In combination with a pair of successive printing couples each having a numbering head associated therewith adapted to be periodically actuated to change the type face thereof, means to intermit the actuation of one numbering head, means to intermit the actuation of the second numbering head, a mechanism driven in timed relation to the couples adapted to operate said latter means after a determined movement, a connecting mechanism adapted to be moved by such first mentioned means and through such movement to initiate the operation of said driven mechanism and means also operated by said driven mechanism after its determined movement to restore said connecting mechanism to initial position.

11. In combination with a printing couple iaving a printing mechanism associated therewith actuated by a cam follower, a cam surface cooperating with the follower, mechanism for moving the same into andout from the path of the follower, a trip moving in timed relation with the couple, an element to be engaged thereby to operate said mechanism and means for bringing one of said last two mentioned elements into position to be engaged by the other.

12. In combination with a printing cylinder having a printing mechanism associated therewith actuated by acam follower, a cam surface cooperating with the follower, mechanism for moving the same relatively to the path of the follower, I relation to the cylinder, an element to be moved thereby to actuate said mechanism and means to bring said cam and element into opposition whereby the latter may receive movement from theformer.

l fIn combination with a printing cylinder having a printing mechanism associated therewith actuated by a cam follower, a cam surface cooperating with the follower, mechanism for moving the same into and outfrom the path of the follower, a pair of disaligned cams rotating in timed relation to said cylinder, an element to be moved in opposite directions thereby respectively to actuate saidmechani'sm and means to shift said element into the path of one or the other cam. i l. In combination with a printing cylinder having a printing mechanism associated a camrotating in timed therewith actuated bya cam follower, a cam surface cooperating with the follower, mech- I anism for moving the same into and out from the path of the follower, a pair of disaligned can'is rotating in timed relation to said cylinder, an element to bem'oved in opposite directions thereby respectively to actuate said mechanism and means to shift said element into the path of one or the other cam,

the rise portions of such cams crossing thev path in which saidelement is shifted and serving to prevent effective action of said means during a part ofthe cycle.

'15. In combination with a printing cylinder having a printing mechanism associated therewith actuated by a-cam follower, a cam surface cooperating withthe follower, mechanism for moving the same into and out of the path of the follower, a pair ofdisaligned cams rotating in timed relation to said follower and having rise portions withtrans' versely overlapping paths, an arm for actuating said mechanism under the influence of said cams and means to shift said arm transversely from a position outward of the rise of one cam and in the plane thereof to a position inwardly of the rise of the other cam and in the plane thereof.

16. In combination wlth a printing cylinder having a printing mechanism associated therewith actuated by a cam follower, a cam surface cooperating with the follower, mechanism for moving the same relatively tothe pat-h of the follower, an edge cam rotating in timed relation to the cylinder having a rise portion, an element movable by said rise portion to actuate said mechanism and means for shifting said element transversely of the path of said rise portion and'therefore effective when the rise portion is not in opposition thereto to carry the said element into the plane of the cam to be thereafter moved by said portion.

17. In combination with a printing couple having a printing mechanism associated therewith actuated by a cam follower, a cam surface cooperating with said follower ant mechanism for moving the same relatively to the path of the follower comprising controlling means and a device moving in timed relation to the couple and presenting a stop in the path of a portion of the mechanism which is moved by said means whereby to prevent actuation of the same during 2LP01- tion of the cycle.

' 18. In combination with a arintin cou le having a printing mechanism associated therewith actuated by a cam follower, a cam surface cooperating with said follower, and mechanisnifor moving the same relatively to the path of the follower comprising controlling means and a device movingin timed relation to the couple and presenting a stop in thelpath of a portion of the mechanism which is moved by said means whereby to prevent actuation of the same during a por-. tion of the cycle, said portion after action of the mechanism being moved out of the path of said stop.

' 19. In combination with a printing couple having a. printing mechanism associated therewith actuated by a cam follower, a cam surface cooperating. with said follower and mechanism for moving the same relatively to the path of the follower comprising controlling means, a part shifted thereby and a member rotating'in timed relation to the couple and having a nose portion crossing the path of said part whereby to prevent actuation of said means during a part of the cycle.

20. Incombination with'a pair of successive printing couples, governing means associated with the first couple for operation at a determined phase of its movement,'a controlling device for the second couple,

' a device for engaging and operating the same tion of the controlling device for said second couple.

21. In combination with a pair of succes-.

sire printing couples, a governing means for the first couple, a double-acting wi er actuated therewith, a'lever thrown by the wiper, a second lever connected'to the first, a delayed action mechanism controlled by movement of said second lever, a governing means for the second couple operated by said mechanism and a second wiper operating on the second lever to throw the same and actuated with said last mentioned means. 22. In combination with a p ting cylinder,-a governing mechanism for tl-e same, a pair of disaligned cams rotating in timed relation to said cylinder, an element to be moved in opposite directions thereby respectively to actuate said mechanism and means to shift said element into thepath of one or the other cam.

23. In combination with a printing cylinder, a governing mechanism for the same, a pair of disaligned cams rotating in timed re lation to said cylinder, an element to be moved in opposite directions thereby respec tively to actuate said mechanism and means to shift said element into the path ofone or the other cam, the rise portions of such cams crossing the path in-which said element is shifted andservingto prevent effective act-ion of said means during a part of the cycle.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my.

name to this specification.

OTTO C. F. MEISEL. 

